NETWORK CRITICIZED
FOR 'BLEEPING JESUS'
In a move that backfired, ABC offended some Christian viewers for editing the word "Jesus" out of a recent broadcast. The bleeped Jesus on "The View" has drawn the ire of Baptist preacher Jerry Falwell, some conservative media watchdogs and even the women whose on-air conversation was altered, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

"It is political correctness run amok," said Elizabeth Swasey, spokeswoman for the Media Research Center. On the May 23 edition of "The View," Meredith Vieira noted that the daily weigh-ins of her dieting co-host, Joy Behar, had ended. "Yes, and thank You, thank You, Jesus, is all I have to say," Behar replied.

Her words were aired live in much of the country, but when ABC broadcast a taped version of the daytime show on the West Coast, "Jesus" was edited out. ABC spokeswoman Julie Hoover said the network has no problem with Jesus Christ's name if it is used in a "prayerful and respectful manner," the AP reported. "We were concerned it would be offensive to our audience," Hoover said.

Five days after the incident, hosts of "The View" noted they had received about 100 complaints. "It was stupid to bleep that," co-host Star Jones said. "They let us say all kinds of things on TV, but they bleep Jesus? That makes no sense."

AMERICANS ATTEND CHURCH
WEAKLY, NOT WEEKLY
America may be considered a nation of churchgoers, but they are not there regularly. Fewer than one out of three adults attends worship weekly, according to the latest findings of the Barna Research Group (BRG), which tracks Christian beliefs and trends. And despite much talk about spiritual awakening, BRG has found little overall change in the state of the church over the last decade.

One significant area of growth is among the unchurched-identified as people who have not attended a service in the last six months other than for a special event. Their numbers have grown from 24 percent to 34 percent since 1991. BRG's "The State of the Church: 2002" study puts that increase down to rising nonattendance among "Baby Boomers, women, Hispanics, and residents of the Northeast and the West coast."

In the area of belief, about 46 percent of five interviewees identified as nonevangelical born-again Christians agreed that Jesus sinned while on earth or were not sure that he did not.

BRG President George Barna said that with churches having spent more than $500 billion over the last 10 years trying to "influence America's spiritual life," the study showed that "it takes more than good intentions and a menu of popular programs to make a dent in the nation's religious identity and consciousness."

GENERAL SAYS PRAYER KEY
TO DEFEATING TERRORISM
A U.S. Army general believes America's war on terrorism won't be won without divine intervention. Speaking yesterday to more than 1,000 people attending the Community Prayer Breakfast in Fort Myers, Fla., Maj. Gen. William Boykin said it will take prayer to defeat those who want to destroy the United States, "The Fort Myers News Press" reported.

"It is a spiritual enemy we have to contend with. Now is the time to fight," said the commander of the Army's Special Forces school in Fort Bragg, N.C. "We've got to defeat them on our knees. Pray for our leaders. Pray for our nation."

Talking about his darkest hour, Boykin asked God to protect his men when he sent them into Somalia during a 1993 covert operation, which resulted in a firefight that claimed 18 Army Rangers, the "Press" reported. "My heart was broken," said Boykin, noting that he went to his bunk where he cried for his men and was angry with God. "I said there is no God. If there was a God, He would've been here to protect my soldiers."

Then, Boykin said he heard God's voice saying: "If there is no God, there is no hope." Boykin described his change of heart after that and drew applause when he said: "God is alive. God is real. God will answer the prayers of those who humble themselves before Him."

HARRY POTTER SPARKS
'INTEREST' IN OCCULT
As Harry Potter goes home with thousands of Americans, a study has debunked the idea that the fictional young wizard's adventures do not promote an interest in the occult.

While supporters of the best-selling novels - whose first movie installment, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," has just been released on DVD and video - argue that the series is innocent fun, a survey by the WisdomWorks ministry has found 12 percent of teens exposed to the character were "interested" in witchcraft as a result.

"While this represents a minority of teens, it still accounts for about 5 percent of all U.S. teenagers and projects to more than a million students nationwide who claim that the Potter stories have made them more interested in witchcraft," said WisdomWorks president Mark Matlock.

The student ministry's research also discovered that almost half the youngsters who have read the books or seen the movie are regular church youth group attendees. Matlock said the Potter story - of an ordinary child who finds out he has a special heritage - can be used to reach teens with the gospel. "In many ways, Harry's discovery is similar to the real truth we find in Christ...that we are loved and uniquely created

LONDON ADVENTIST CHORALE PERFORMS IN ROYAL JUBILEE CONCERT (BUC-News)

On Saturday evening, 1 June, the London Adventist Chorale, conducted by Ken
Burton, took part in an open air classical concert in the gardens of
Buckingham Palace. The concert had been specially commissioned by Her
Majesty the Queen as part of her Jubilee celebrations, marking fifty years
of her reign.

During the concert the Chorale performed two pieces, "Great Getting-up
Morning", and "Great Day", which was specially arranged for the event by Ken
Burton. Other artists performing during the concert included Dame Kiri Te
Kanawa, Roberto Alagna and Angela Gheorghiu, the BBC Symphony Orchestra and
Chorus under Conductor Laureate Sir Andrew Davis, the Russian cellist
Mstislav Rostropovich, top baritone soloist Sir Thomas Allen, 12-year-old
clarinettist Julian Bliss, Sir Anthony Dowell, and former Royal Ballet
dancer Zenaiden Yanowsky.

The Jubilee concert was one of a number of highlights in the Queen's Jubilee
celebrations and good weather, along with excellent media coverage, ensured
that the event was seen by a wide audience. Although only 12,000 people were
able to attend the concert it was relayed on large video screens to many
thousands more outside of the palace grounds, and to an estimated world
television and radio audience of several hundred million.

In a BBC interview after the event Ken Burton was asked how he felt when he
first received the invitation. "Originally I thought it was going to be an
all day event," he said, "with people coming in the garden, and side shows,
and we'd be performing on some stage while people were sipping champaign and
eating sandwiches. When I discovered that it was an actual concert my heart
started beating a little faster!" When asked how the choir felt about
performing at such a prestigious event Ken replied, "We're singing songs
which we actually believe. We're singing a message which we one hundred
percent believe and live by every day, so I said, 'just let that shine
through, and be confident. Don't worry about the 12,000 people and the
millions of viewers, just enjoy', and that they did."

On Wednesday morning BUC President Pastor Cecil Perry spoke proudly of the
achievements of the London Adventist Chorale, over the last few years and
particularly over the Jubilee weekend. "It was wonderful for our members to
see and hear an Adventist choir performing so well on such an historic
occasion," he said. BUC Communication director John Surridge said, "this is
undoubtedly the greatest media exposure Adventists have ever had in this
country. The London Adventist Chorale has done a great deal for the witness
of the Church, both here in the UK and around the world."

News of the Chorale's Royal performance has been carried by Adventist News
Network and currently features on the front page of the General Conference
web-site at: <www.adventist.org>.